New summary : If you mix unstable ingredients, you may get more than you bargained for. Harry is raised by Jim Moriarty, and he is about to start Hogwarts. What can one boy do to change the world? Dark!Harry
The story is told from several POVs.
Beta: Julie. fjad
Chapter Three
Almost eleven
"Do you understand everything, my good friend?"
Harry was looking into the hazel eyes that were always filled with different emotions, but always dead serious, even when joking, but now he could see sincere, honest concern there.
Even though James was a fanatic, Harry had always hoped—even when knowing better—that James would not leave him behind.
He was extremely useful, and as James had said it on several occasions, Harry was the candle of light in the otherwise overwhelming darkness—what most people called boredom. But still, even he couldn't compare to the source of James' frustration. And pleasure. Harry knew how obsessed Moriarty was with Holmes Junior, and there was nothing he could do.
Fucking Sherlock.
James wasn't saying goodbye, but it was one. It felt like it, and Harry swallowed hard.
Tomorrow, when the letter would come, a new life would knock on Harry's door, and he'd have to start his own game that had no room for failure.
And he would have no one to rely on. No one to help him, no one to give him good advice.
No one. Again.
"I understand."
And he did. James was going to play a role and then, most likely, die, if he had to, and Harry had no place in the picture. The hit from Holmes would be as powerful as Moriarty's, and James did not want Harry near the soup he was about to brew.
Harry was Moriarty's only weak spot and was supposed to stay as far away as possible, learning magic and seeing the world for himself. No one was to know about Harry's illegal guardian, so that he could have a normal life in the wizarding world.
If only wizards knew how easy it was to find their "hidden" world…
Especially with connections like James Moriarty had.
James wanted to see Diagon Alley, but since the search for Harry kept on, they were afraid there were wards that would alert the authorities to Harry Potter's presence, and James was a muggle.
He had so many books he needed three libraries. Not that money was an issue, nor would it become one, as Harry Potter would have access to many secret accounts and would be able to afford anything he wished for.
He had so many thoughts he wanted to scream.
Harry had to go to Hogwarts, and James had to follow his mania.
The polished cars were shining in the sun, making Harry's eyes water.
He wasn't crying. He was almost eleven.
"If you want to be great, you cannot have any attachments, little one."
Today they were going to have fun for the last time, and then Harry would disappear, and James would be arrested soon.
"One day, I am going to show you Diagon Alley and everything you want to see," Harry said, demanding his voice to stay neutral, but James was just too brilliant, too smart, to not see the pain in the boy's eyes.
"I have faith in you, little one. Let go and accept the inevitable. And remember, if the most important figures are missing from the chessboard, then the game hasn't started yet. Make everyone think the game has started, watch their moves, learn their style and nature." Moriarty came closer and hugged Harry, whispering into his ear. "And then strike, like the deadly snake you are, and never let go. Nothing may stand between you and your goal. Not even your life, Harry!"
James Moriarty was dressed in his usual handsome suit—Westwood—and Harry looked at his sneakers and t-shirt, as James stepped aside, now holding Harry's shoulders.
He looked like a child.
Which he was, but with James age did not matter.
"Be yourself when you pretend. Be like me." James smiled an honest, full of mirth smile, and Harry could do nothing but smile back, asking through the hidden tears, "You mean all crazy?"
Anyone else would be shot, but he wasn't just anyone. He was Harry Potter.
"Unpredictable."
xxx
The thirtieth of July finally came, and Severus couldn't be more agitated, yet excited. Tomorrow, they'd find out where the Boy-who-lived was staying. Finally, after almost four years, he would know where the hell Potter was.
Severus didn't know if he wanted to strangle or hug the idiot when he would meet him. And today, he was meeting with Albus Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge to then attend a meeting with someone from the British Muggle government. 'Mycroft Holmes' did not ring any bells.
"I am going with you, Albus. This is not up for a discussion. You have done enough, don't you agree?"
Severus almost smiled at the proud Scottish witch who was standing up to the great Albus Dumbledore. If there was one witch that held his utmost respect, it was Minerva McGonagall.
"Ah, there you are, Severus. Professor Dumbledore seems confused about my opinion on this issue, so either I have lost my explanation skills, or he has gone senile. I am going with you to the meeting with Mister Mycroft Holmes and I will be there tomorrow to see Harry Potter. You have done enough, Albus." Minerva took a deep breath and adjusted the hat on her head.
Severus took a quick look at the defeated Headmaster, and the sneer made it to his face. The boy did not exist, according to all muggle sources. Tomorrow, on the eleventh birthday of the boy-who-lived, the chase would be finally over. As soon as the owl reached its target, the address would be written down in the Book of Hogwarts, and they all would Apparate to the known address.
"The Muggle Prime Minister offered to organise a meeting with Mr. Holmes, to help with our problem, and in return, we would help with the problem the British government faces. Due to unforeseen circumstances the meeting had been delayed by several months, and only today we get the chance to meet. If you so insist, please do come with us, Minerva. " Albus Dumbledore got up from his chair and walked over to Severus and Minerva, holding a small paper with something written on it.
Baker Street 221b, London
Severus read the note and repeated the words in his head, focusing on the upcoming pull near the navel.
He hoped the muggle wasn't a complete idiot.
Xxx
"Sherlock, sit down. Don't make me regret telling you about wizarding world's existence in the first place." Mycroft shook his head at his younger brother, who kept pacing in the living room, between the chairs where he and Dr. Watson sat.
In one minute Sherlock would pull out a cigarette and start sniffing it.
So predictable.
Mycroft took out a golden coin and pressed the middle, where the initials L.M stood.
It was time for Lucius Malfoy to arrive.
A sneaky, slippery opportunist who had no morals.
Pureblood fanatic.
Just like him.
Muggles had to stay with Muggles, while wizards should keep to themselves.
He and Mister Malfoy both enjoyed good food and had a thing for money. Lucius sponsored most of their missions abroad, selling and buying weapons and territories, but only to those who were on the 'allowed' list. He was a very useful colleague.
It would be interesting to see Sherlock's first reaction to the Malfoy's wizarding wardrobe. Mycroft knew Sherlock would want such a coat.
Robe.
Out of thin air materialized a man with long, white-blond hair, dressed in deep blue robes, holding the always-there snake-like cane, and Mycroft smirked when Dr. Watson screamed and Sherlock kept staring at the new guest.
"Sherlock, Dr. Watson, this is Lucius Malfoy. One of the few wizards I do have contact with," Mycroft said in a polite, partially friendly tone, instead of the official one he'd use when talking to the Headmaster and Chief Warlock, Albus Dumbledore who would come with another Professor— Severus Snape.
Speaking of Snape, Tobias Snape had been arrested four times for violence and outrageous behaviour, while Severus had had really good notes in grade school.
Especially talented in biology.
Mrs. Pippentip, who had been ridiculed for her name, had been Severus's favourite teacher.
Mrs. Pippentip had later committed suicide because her husband had cheated with her sister, but that was many years after, when Severus had already "disappeared" from the radar.
Did the wizards really think the government wouldn't notice here and there children stopping visiting school when they turn eleven? Disappearing from the radar of muggle authorities, and tax officers who later in life want to find out why you don't have any income and expenses outcome?
As long as he was in the government, that was not going to happen.
"Pleasure."
Sherlock shook hands with the blond—still gloved—wizard first, and Mycroft saw conclusions run behind his brother's blue eyes.
Lucius, who was now greeting Dr. Watson, was disgusted by the necessity to communicate with dirty muggles, however, his common sense won over fanatic belief soaked with mother's milk. And that was why Mycroft liked the arrogant blond enough to talk to him once in a while.
The information he had received from several sources formed into a solid figure and got a name. The two pictures he had received were outdated, but they proved his point. Now Mycroft knew about the Boy-who-lived-to-wear-the-crown and he wanted the wizards to take that little bastard back before he ordered him dead.
Both Moriarty and Potter had once again vanished from the crime scene, leaving only ridiculous pictures and video footage, mocking the government and both Holmeses.
The last time he had worked with Lucius, British Government got additional 15 billion pounds.
And now the price was much higher:
The entire nation.
Xxx
"All hail the Queen!"
Harry waved his hand in a royal manner, and wiped an imaginary tear, trying not to move too much, so that the crown wouldn't fall off.
He had to behave accordingly, even when breaking into the Crown Jewel safe.
Jim—only Harry called him James, and only in private—was now jumping around, throwing confetti into the air, while dressed in the royal robe and holding a sceptre with a huge ruby.
Rossini's "A Thieving Magpie" was playing loudly, and Harry smirked when he looked into the camera, knowing he would not be recognized by anyone.
All was good.
Xxx
Albus Dumbledore thought himself to be a wise man. Hard to surprise. Now, however, Albus knew his eyebrows were near the white hairline.
"Mister Malfoy, what a pleasant surprise," Albus said, looking at Lucius with twinkling blue eyes that remained as sharp as always, if not more.
If Lucius Malfoy was here it meant one of the two things.
The situation was dire.
Or Malfoy became all muggle-friendly, while being a Death Eater.
While everyone deserved a second chance and a bit of trust in their humanity, some should be treated with care. And Lucius, who was the richest pureblood in Great Britain, had a lot of influence. Albus knew for sure that Malfoy did not reform his views, so that meant something big had happened for him to interfere in muggle politics.
Did it somehow involve Harry?
Xxx
That slippery, hypocritical snake!
Severus tried to keep his face straight, and only his iron will kept the sneer down.
And then a wave of "What if" started to bombard his mind, just like it had all this time with Lily. What if he had told Malfoy about Harry Potter those three years ago when he had met him in the Office for International Politics? It looked like Malfoys had much deeper business routes in the muggle world than they talked about.
He had heard the rumours while still in school, that Malfoys dealt with muggles when it came to investments while denying any interactions to the wizarding society.
What if Lucius could have helped?
Malfoy was now looking at Severus with his grey eyes squinted, one eyebrow raised.
Severus Snape knew that Lucius remembered their meeting at the ministry as well, and hoped the outcome wouldn't be bad.
Xxx
For a second, Mycroft Holmes reminded him of the Dark Lord, when he had just come to him for the Mark. His gaze was as sharp as his mind, and he read your every step.
"What I am about to tell you is classified under top confidential information and cannot be discussed with anyone outside the people present in the room." Holmes looked pointedly at Lucius, and Severus nodded when Mycroft glanced at him for confirmation.
"We have reasons to believe that a magical child is involved with Jim Moriarty, who is the number one terrorist in Great Britain, and possibly the world."
That didn't sound very promising…
"Jim Moriarty."
On the screen before them appeared a picture of a man, and Severus noted his appearance and clothing, emotionless face and burning eyes.
Dangerous.
"And this is the child we have been looking for," Mycroft continued, as he pressed a button, making a new picture appear on the machine
Hmm…
Severus had a feeling he knew something in the features, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
The girl on this picture had long, blond hair, was dressed in a long princess dress, had funny, large sunglasses and looked to be maybe eight years old judging by the height.
The crown on the head was bigger than the head itself.
"Any ideas, Mister Dumbledore?"
"Professor," McGonagall corrected automatically and raised her eyebrows as Mycroft Holmes smirked a nasty smirk.
"And a Professor's diploma is from which officially acknowledged university?" If there was one muggle he could respect, it was this one. And his younger brother, who Severus would have labeled "Legilimens", had he not felt no magical aura around Sherlock Holmes' tall figure.
Two extraordinary Muggles.
"Mister Dumbledore is fine, Minerva," Albus Dumbledore offered kindly while looking closer at the picture that looked to be digital. The evolution of muggle technology was incredible.
Professor McGonagall huffed and straightened her back. "The girl doesn't remind me of any of my older students," she said, receiving a nod from Lucius as well.
Dumbledore, though, kept staring at the picture.
"Well, in that case, how about I show you two more pictures. They are outdated and were taken two years ago, however, I believe it could help you to understand who it is that you see on the picture with the crown," Mycroft's words were stinging and sharp, and Severus noticed the uneasiness making its way into Albus' eyes. Severus himself could feel his heartbeat accelerate.
The picture of the blonde girl was replaced by another, where the same man was standing with his side to the camera, holding what looked like binoculars in one hand, and the other was around a boy's shoulders as he explained something to the child. It wasn't the man who got everyone's attention though, it was the boy nearby, standing with his back to the camera.
Something in his mind started screaming at him at the sight of messy black hair, and Severus took a deep breath as the second picture was shown, the one where the boy was looking over his shoulder, as if sensing the lens's focus , and feeling his legs tremble, Severus leaned onto a chair.
No.
Dear Merlin.
The green eyes on the oh-so-familiar face were cold and calculating, and in one hand the boy held a gun. The lightning bolt scar was visible partially from underneath the messy black hair.
"See anyone you know, wizards and witches?"
Lily's eyes on a face with no emotions, so unlike James Potter, were looking at them from the picture, and Severus heard the moment when Lucius Malfoy had also understood who it was, as his cane fell onto the floor, hands opening in shock.
"Potter?!"
xxx
"It— it cannot be, Albus!"
Minerva.
"Why do I find out that the Boy Wonder had gone missing only now?!"
Malfoy.
"But this is just a child!"
Doctor Watson.
What if Severus had asked Lucius about Potter back then?
"A child who has caused more problems than a whole country of grown men could. This child is an accomplice of Jim Moriarty, and helped him acquire a very dangerous artefact that we have not been able to find for several years, and helped to expand his criminal empire to a previously before unseen size."
It was Sherlock, the other unusual muggle, who voiced everyone's concerns, before his elder brother added to the shock.
"Do you know anything about muggle weapons?" Mycroft asked, smiling sweetly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Minerva and Albus, who were still shocked, shook their heads, while Lucius tsked and nodded, making Severus doubt he even knew who Lucius was.
Cornelius Fudge was sitting quietly in the corner, his lips trembling, not taking his eyes from the cold stare on the picture.
"Do you know what a bomb is?" Mycroft Holmes asked, and at everyone's nod, he smiled like a shark before getting deadly serious.
"Harry has a bomb?" Professor McGonagall asked, trying to keep her voice steady, and only Fudge didn't hear the panic in it. Everyone else in the room was sharp enough.
Some a bit too sharp, if you asked Severus.
"No, Harry doesn't have a bomb." Mycroft was now looking at them with clear eyes, full with rage and contempt, and Severus would have breathed out, had he not felt that something else was coming.
"Then what's the problem, Mr. Holmes?" Lucius was always the impatient one.
Malfoy just addressed a Muggle, and had done so with the use of 'Mister' and in a polite tone. The world was coming to an end.
"Your Harry helped Moriarty acquire not just any bomb, but a nuclear one, large enough to blow up the whole Scotland. It was transported from Pakistan to Great Britain yesterday and we cannot find it. Does it sound like a problem now, Mister Malfoy?"
Silence.
Severus looked at Albus, who was looking more sad than a kicked puppy, and then glanced to Malfoy, whose eyes were wide and whose mouth hung open, and Severus demanded his own jaw to close. Minerva had a hand over her mouth, and Fudge kept staring at them, not understanding what the word "nuclear" meant. He was the only one who didn't get the difference between a bomb and a nuclear bomb.
Dear Merlin, just who was Harry Potter?
Did the boy know about the wizarding world?
Just who awaited them tomorrow?
xxx
The silence was interrupted by a peeping sound that came from Sherlock's mobile, and Mycroft knew who had written his little brother a message even before Sherlock gave him the phone after reading it.
"Come and play, come and play, or I'll make you pay. Early bird catches the worm. 7 o'cl0ck by the 7th London dock or Tick t0ck, Sherl0ck P "
Moriarty was making the first move, and it was worse than he had anticipated.
The final game had begun.
Xxx
a/n Your opinion would be highly appreciated.